Omar‏ questions govt's stand on Rohingyas, says threat angle post-2014 development

He maintained that government's assertation of a grave national security threat to the country due to their presence is only a “post-2014 development".

New Delhi: Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday questioned the Centre's stand on Rohingya Muslims living illegally in the country and said no threats due to their presence were discussed in past high-level security meetings.

He maintained that the government's assertation of a grave national security threat due to their presence is only a “post-2014 development".

“This threat, at least in J&K, is a post-2014 development. No such intelligence reports ever came up for discussion in Unified HQ meetings,” Abdullah tweeted.

His remarks came after the Centre told the Supreme Court that Rohingyas who are living illegally in the country are a serious security threat.

The Centre, however, has sought more time to file a detailed response.

"Some Rohingya Muslims have links with Pakistan's ISI as well as the Islamic State," the Centre said in its affidavit filed before the apex court today.

In its 15-page affidavit, the Centre stated that there is an organised network of touts operating in Myanmar and West Bengal and Tripura to facilitate illegal Rohingya influx.

The apex court then gave Centre time until October 3 to file its response to a bunch of petitions filed by the Rohingya Muslims opposing their proposed deportation to Myanmar.

The move comes in the wake of severe criticism from UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who flayed reported attempts by India to deport Rohingyas to Myanmar when the ethnic minority community is facing violence in their country.